Sri Lanka to ban predatory pet fish to protect ecosystems | International

COLOMBO, Sept 17, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Sri Lanka will ban four species of predatory ornamental fish including Piranhas that have escaped into rivers and lakes, devastating native species and threatening fragile freshwater ecosystems, the fisheries minister said Wednesday. "We want to protect our inland water bodies from invasive species," Ramalingam Chandrasekar said, adding it was aimed at protecting the livelihoods of fishermen on the island nation. The import, sale and transportation of Redline Snakehead, Knife Fish, Alligator Gar and Piranha, imported from Southeast Asia, will be banned from Saturday, the minister said in a statement. Snakeheads, which can grow to over three feet (one metre), were rapidly multiplying in a lake in the northwestern part of the island, threatening the...